English: Detailed carving on the back of a violin, seen at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The paper in the foreground says : « Violin, English about 1680. Pine top and sides, sycamore back, decorated with spiral scroll work and the royal arms of the Stuarts. The final is in the form of a woman's head.
The instrument is not signed but a number of names have been suggested, the most likely being Thomas Urquhart, who worked at London Bridge between 1648 and 1680. The baroque style of decoration and Royal Stuart arms would indicate that the instrument was part of the household of Charles II or James II. Charles II is known to have preferred the brisk and arie sounds of the violin to the contrapuntal fancies of the viol. »